56 ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE STREPTOCARPUS REXII, 



ARTICLE IV.— Oh the Cultivation of the Sireptocarpus 

 Re.vii, as a Border Plant. By Mr. G. Harrison, 

 Nurseryman and Florist, Downham Market, Norfolk. 



The Streptocaqius R^xii has a beautiful apjjearance when 

 grown in the open border during the summer months^ and I do not 

 know a phmt more worthy ol" introduction into the flower garden ; 

 it is easy of culture, and blooms profusely. Not having seen this 

 plant cultivated extensively, I am induced to offer these few re- 

 marks to the readers of your Magazine, in hopes they may be a 

 stimulus to the introduction of this plant niore generally into the 

 open border. The seed may be sown in April, either in pots or 

 flat pans, (the latter I prefer,) in a mixture of loam and peat ; 

 let the jians be jjlaced in a hot bed frame until the plants are fit 

 for potting off. The seeds should be sown very thin, otherwise 

 the major part of the plants would perisli, for the want of air to 

 their stalks, as they gi'ow with their foliage prostrate. As soon as 

 the plants are strong enough for potting off, let a quantity of pots 

 be filled with peat and rich loam, (the pots I use are 6 inches 

 deep and 4i wide) ; tuni out the plants carefully, and place one in 

 each pot ; let a little water be given to them with gxeat care, and 

 afterwards remove them into the frame. When they have got a 

 little established in these pots, they may be removed into a cool 

 frame or greenhouse. In June, the pots may be placed in the 

 open air, and the plants regularly attended to during summer with 

 water. Towards the end of October, remove them into a frame, 

 pit, or gi'eenhouse, as they require to be kept from severe frosts. 

 Early in May following, prepare abed for the plants, (a circular one 

 I recommend for this plant,) and let the bed be raised with loam 

 and peat, the highest in the centre, gi'adually declining to the edge 

 of the bed. A bed fourteen feet in diameter should rise two feet 

 at the centre. In turning out the plants into the bed, place one 

 in the centre, and one every ten or twelve inches over the surface ; 

 let a little water then be given to the plants, and as often afterwards as 

 may be necessary. In three or fourweeks after turning outthe plants 

 they will have nearly covered the surface of the bed, and will be 

 one complete mass of bloom. I had a bed of this plant last sum- 

 mer, which was entirely covered with blossoms from the i-nd of 



